Denture



Patented Aug. 29, 1933 UNITED 4STATES vPsrENT`o1=1=1mi-:ff"

h Charles H.. Wharton, Seattle, Wash. n t

" Application December 16, 1929 Serial No. 414,295

1s Claims.

This invention relates to lower dentures. Heretofore dentures ofk this sort havebeen of integral or unitary form with the result'that the provision and maintenance of proper accommodation to the mouth and balancing onthe foundation or lower `jaw along the entire denture from end to end hasbeen practically impossible. The `uni-lateral functioningVv of a onepiece lower denture also produces objectionable bi-lateral stresses upon the tissues under the denture. For example, in a one-@piece denture all movements along the posterior part at either side are accompanied by movements along the posterior part at the opposite side and along the front oryanterior partof the denture, with the result that a downward pressure, compressing the tissues under theposterior part at one side produces objectionable stresses upon the tissues along the anterior part and also along the opposite posterior part.

Furthermore, in taking an impression ofthe lower jaw for a full one-piece lower denture it has been necessary to takev a single impression of the entire lower jaw with the result that the tissues along the front or anterior part of `the jaw are stressed along with the stressing of the tissues along the posterior parts, whereas the ideal conditions for taking the posterior impressions are that the anterior tissues be at rest and not under stress. i.

Where the base of `a one-piece denture is formed to grip around the mylohyoid ridge the extension of the posterior portions back along the retro-molar region has necessarily been limited in orderfto permit insertion andfremov'al of the denture. Y

I have conceived that the objections and disadvantages in a one-piece lower denture can be eliminated by making thewlower denture of sec` tional construction and it therefore, the -ob ject o this invention to provide a sectionalized lower denture comprising arplurality of denture parts joined together and"constituting a full lower denture.

I am aware that partial dentures, have been provided with spaced denture parts, adapted for i complementary relation with respect to the nat- V not encountered therewith.l Furthermore, the `spacedaparts, of 'a partial denture have been ural teeth in the mouth, but Athese are not full dentures and the problems of a full denture are Y rigidly or integrally connected to forma unitary or one-piece partial denture or .the separate parts have been secured tothe natural teeth.

The sectionalized; construction which Iprovide enables the provision and maintenance of better accommodation tothe mouth and en-` ables uni-lateral functioningV without bi-lateral stressand each posterior part permits of down-y ward pressure independently of the anterior and be partly taken care of` by the posterior parts f ing ends of the parts are preferablyon such "inclined planes that the intermediate anteriorrvv 4 place.

opposite posteriorfpart,'thereby `enabling the` i compression of the tissue pad under either l,posterior part without compressing the tissues under the anterior or opposite yposterior part, The separate removability ofthe anterior part 19 permits the posterior portions of the denture toA be extended farther back into the retro-molar regions without interferingwith the desired freedom of removal and insertionofvthe denture. The sectionalized construction makes it possible 70 `to take the impression of the lower jaw in difierent sections instead of in a. single impresi sion. This enables taking'the impressions. of the posterior areas under pressure and separately 4and with 'the anterior tissuesV at rest. T75 It is another and more specificobject of the present invention to so take the impression and so construct the sectionalized denture that the masticating pressures onthe anterior teeth .will 80 of the denture on either side so that the` posy terior parts will begin compression on the pos-` terior tissues before pressurev is brought upon the tissues along the anterior' parts. p i The particular number of vparts into which the'g5 denture is divided and the particular nature vof the joints or connections between the partsmay vary widely within the scope of this invention. In the preferred embodimentfof the" invention the denture is made up in `three parts, right and f left handposterivor parts carrying the posterior .teeth with a separate anterior or'iront part carfrying the six'lower anterior teeth. The` meetpart is carried by the posterior parts, the anterior part being in thev form of a wedge between said posterior parts. The joints, are adapted to make the seetionalizedv denture suiciently rigid in action to permit of stability 'and to enable the denturejto be balanced on the 'foundation or lower jaw (Without wiggling) and these joints or connections may be non-hinged orhinged as y desired, The abutting ends or the anteriorand, posterior parts ofV the' denture are preferablyA faced to form smooth and properly cooperating. surfaces permitting ready adaptability and when in vplace stability from all movements except downward movement of `the posterior` parts no "which are always free for up and `r`down movement'but not for lateral movement, being held relatively rigid as to" lateral movement When'in In orderto acquaint those vskilled in the art `with the construction and 'operation of i the in-v vention, I shall "now describe a particular embodiment of the invention in", connection with the accompanying drawing in which Figure" 1 is a" top plan View ofV an embodi- 120 mentofthe invention- Y i t section taken on the line l2--2 of Figure 1 and showing the foundation or lower Yjaw in dotted lines; Y Y' Y Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentarytoprlplan view showing on an enlarged scale the particut lar joint illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 for joining adjacent sections of the denture together; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail section taken on the line i--4of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawing, the illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises right and left hand lower posterior parts 5 and 7 and an :intermediate front "or anterior lower part 6 disposed ,therebetween and constituting with thek parts 5 and 71a full lower denture. Thev part 5 comprises a" base portion carrying the right hand posterior lower teeth 9 and the part 6 comprises a base portion carrying the left` hand posterior lower teeth 11.

part 7 comprises a base portion 12 carrying the anterior six lower teeth.

The anterior The base portions 8 and 10 maybe of any suitable or preferredmaterial, gold, rubber, and condensites being' now commonly used for this purpose.` The teeth 9 and 11 and the lower anterior teeth 13 are rigidly attached to the respective base portions 8, 10 and 12.

The bottoms of `the base portions 8, 1Q and 12 are formed at 15 to conform with theV foundation or lower jaw indicated inV dotted lines at v 16 'in Figures `1 and 2, this formation, while 'continuous around vthe full denture is sectionalized along the joints between the denture parts and the impression may be taken in separate sections instead of in one impression (as heretofore) which permits taking the impressions of the posterior areas under pressure' lndependentlyof the anterior area so that the anterior area may be at rest and without any stresslng thereof with pressure upon the posterior areas.

, 'I his permits of pressure upon the posterior j areas and enables taking the impressions of the posterior areas without stressing the anterior karea and this is onev of theadvantages of the .present invention.

YAnother advantage lies in the better accommodation which'may be provided and maintained with the foundation or jaw land in the uni-lateral functioning without bi-lateral `stress which the sectionalizing of Y the full artificial denture permitsV As already broughtv out, each posterior part 5 and 7 is adapted to take downward pressure findependently of the other and this enables compression of the tissue .pads under either posterior part Yof the denture Without compressing thejtissues under the anterior part 6 and without compressing the tissues under the` opposite posterior part.

The posterior base portions 8` and 10 of the n posterior sections v5 and 7 `are preferably formedv at 17` and 18, respectively, to. grip around the mylohyoid ridge indicated more or less Villustratively Yat 20 and the Vsectionalizing of the denture enables the lintermediate anterior section 6 to be separately removed. This permits extending the posterior` parts 8 and l0 back farther intothe retro-molar regions 21 .and 22, respectively without interfering with the desired freedom vof removal and rinsertion of the denture. I -Ieretofore in a full'denture of Vone-pieceV or unitary construction it has Yalways been necessary to `allow the complete denture Vreadyl brought out, been impossible to take the impression Without stresses along the anterior tissues because the stresses of mastication posteriorly have always been transmitted, at least partially, tothe front, Where not-desired.

The bases of the base portions 8 and vl2 abut endwise at and the bases ofthe base portions 12 and 10 abut endwise` at 26. These` abutting ends 25 andV 26 are preferably in in-jv clined planes as indicated by the dot and dash lines 27 and 28,'theA anterior part 6 being di"- posed between'the parts 5 and 7 and preferably constituting a wedge between the bases of the sections 5 and 7. -The joints' at 25 andl 26 are'rj preferably so constructed, that the'surfaces of the joints are on such inclined planes and the impressions arepreferably so taken 'that lthe anterior'intermediate part 6 is carried by thew posterior parts 5 and 7. VThis enables takingf105 care of the masticating stresses on the six anterior teeth l13 partially, at least, by the posterior parts 5 and 7 on either side, the stresses being imposed on the posterior tissues!^ before any stresses are brought upon the tissuesll() beneath the anterior section 6 of the denture.

' The opposite ends of theA base of the anterior part 6 are preferably provided with facings 30 Vand the ends of the posterior yparts 5 and 7M which abut the opposite ends of the part6 arefll preferably provided with facings 31.

These facings 30 and 31 are preferably o' gold, although any other suitable or rpreferred material vmay be employedand they formYV smooth and properly cooperating inclined sur-V faces, permitting adaptability along `with stabilityl ofthe parts when in'placejfrom all movements except downward movement of the posterior parts, which are always free up ,andy d down, but not laterally, the parts being joined`125 and rigidly Yheld against lateral movement by suitable joining means.

The joining'means may be in the form of a ioo ' hinge joint or non-hinged joint and may vary` widely within the scope of the present invention as already pointed out. The particular joints shown comprise a dowel pin 34,' an intermediate vertical dove-tailed tenon 35 and an inner relatively longf dove-tail vertical tenon 36, allm formed integral with or rigidlyfsecured to the'fl facings 30Uand each of the facings 31 has a complementary outer vertical dowel Ysocket 37, an intermediate dove-tail socket 38y and an inner elongated vertical dove-tail socket 39 con-rw forming with vthe pin, 31 and tenons 35 and'36' and adapted to receive Ythe f same; as shown in Figure 3 by slipping 'the intermediate'antericr part 6 vertically into place between 4the parts s 5 and 7. This jointor fitting, hinged orfnot hinged (as shown) makes it possiblev to `makei5j I,

the three-piece lower denture sufficiently rigid -in action to'permit of great stability and the denture may be `eiectively balanced on Vthe foundation or lowerjaw `without wiggling overr` its entire length. L

plurality of tooth movement lateral movement in use of the denture in thev The elongation of the inner socket 39 land inner tenon 36 reinforces the denture and provides great strength laterally along the joints plurality of tooth carrying denture parts sup-l plementing each other adjacent the mylohyoid ridge of the mouth and constituting a full lower denture and, joining means holding said parts relatively rigidlyagainst lateral movement and permitting free up and down movement between parts of the denture. Y

3. A sectionalized lower denture comprising a carrying joining said parts for relative up and down and holding same against relative mouth, said parts supplementing eachother to constitute a full lower denture, having bases abutting endwise.

4. A sectionalized lower denture comprising a plurality of denture parts joined for relative movement and constituting a full lower denture, said parts h aving bases abutting endwise and inclined and one of said parts being vdisposed and constituting a wedge between theV other parts.

5. A sectionalized lower denture comprising a plurality of denture parts, each consisting of a denture base and teeth carried thereby, said parts constituting a full articial lower denture free of anchorage in the gum, and `means joining said parts for self-adjustable relative up and down movement after positioning the denture in place in the mouth and in use of the denture in masticating. Q L

6. A sectionalized lower denture comprising a plurality of denture parts each consisting of a denture base and teeth carried thereby, said parts constituting a full artificial lower denture,

and means for joining said partstogether and permitting relative `up and down movement when in use, said joining means being disposed at the abutting ends of said denture parts.

'7. A sectionalized lower plurality of separable denture parts, means joining said parts together for relative up and down movement when in use, said parts constituting, when joined, a full artificial lower denture and each of said parts having a teeth carried thereby. l

8. A sectionalizedv lower denture comprising separable right and left handV posterior denture parts carrying posterior denture part carrying anterior teeth disposed -between saidposterior parts and constituting therewith a full artificial lower denture, and means on said parts whereby the posterior parts transmit masticating pressures directly to the gums in the mouthand the anterior parts transmits l identure parts, means Y and said parts denture comprising a denture base and teeth and an anterior( masticating pressures to thev gums substantially Y only through said Vposterior parts.

9. A sectionalized lower denture comprising right and left hand` posterior, ydenture parts, v,

carrying posterior teeth and ananterior denture part carrying anterior teeth 'disposed between said posterior parts and constituting therewith a full artificial lower denture, the meeting ends of said posterior and anterior parts being on infclined planes with the anterior partV having wedge-like action therebetween. f l0. A sectionalized lower denture comprising right and lefthand posterior denture partav carrying posterior teeth and -an anterior denture` part carrying anterior said posterior parts and constituting therewithl a full artificial lower denturaythe meeting ends of said posterior and anterior parts beingon inclined planes, with the anterionpart having wedge-like action therebetween,` the parts being so formed that the anterior saidposterior parts.

11. A sectionalized lower denture comprising a plurality of denture parts constituting a full lower denture and means on the adjacent ends of said identure parts for joining said parts together, said joining means constituting-cooperating dowel means at the adjacent ends of said Vparts.

12. A sectionalized lower denture comprising a plurality of denture parts, constituting a full articial lower denture, means on the adjacent ends of said dentureparts for joiningsaid parts together, said joining means constituting a dowel pin and dove-tail tenon means on vone part and dowel and dove-tail socket means on the other parts.` Y i 13.A sectionalized lower denture comprising a plurality of tooth carrying denture parts joined for relative movementY and constituting a full lower denture, said parts having bases abutting endwise at an angle and one of said parts being disposed and constituting a wedge,

between the other parts.

14. A sectionalized lower denture comprising teeth disposed between part is carried by Vright and leftv hand posterior denture parts cari rying posterior teeth, and an anterior denture part carrying anterior teeth disposed between said posterior parts and constituting therewith H a full artificial lower denture, the meeting ends of said posterior and anterior parts being on inclined planes with the anterior part, said anterior part having wedge-like action between said posterior parts thereby permitting selfadjustable relative movement.

v15. A dental plate comprising an intermediateY section and a pair of end sections, said sections disposed 'in end to end sections being provided with complementary dove tail grooves to connect s aid sections together for relative sliding movement in a plane transverse to the occlusal plane of thedenture,l the sections abutting engagement j, with each other and the abutting ends of Asaid 

